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When to plant sunflowers in Zone 4

In Zone 4, the last spring frost usually passes around May 10 and the first fall frost arrives around September 21, leaving about 134 frost-free days. The windows below are computed from those frost dates, with the same math the Dibble app uses.

Cool climate with a brief warm window. Indoor starts and season extension help.

Last spring frost: May 10First fall frost: September 21Frost-free days: 134Days to maturity: 80Hardiness: Tender

Planting windows for sunflowers in Zone 4

When to plant sunflowers in Zone 4
TaskWindow
Direct sowMay 10 to May 24
Estimated harvestJul 29 to Aug 19

The harvest estimate counts 80 days to maturity, then a picking window of about 21 days. These windows use typical frost dates for Zone 4; Dibble pins them to your exact ZIP code.

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Sunflower in a Zone 4 season

Zone 4 gives about 134 frost-free days. Sunflower needs roughly 80 days from sowing. That leaves about 54 days of slack, enough for one full crop with a little room for a cold spring.

Sowing every 14 days, Zone 4 has room for about 4 plantings.

How to grow sunflowers

Sow sunflowers around your last frost date. Stagger plantings every couple of weeks for blooms all summer.

Companion plants

Good neighbors for Sunflower:

Sweet CornCucumber

Better kept apart:

Potato

Sunflower in other zones

Not in Zone 4? Pick your zone for the same dated windows.

Zone 3Zone 5Zone 6Zone 7Zone 8Zone 9Zone 10Zone 11

Keep exploring

Sunflower: the full growing guide · The Zone 4 planting calendar · Every crop and zone


Plant at the right time this season

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Dates are estimates based on typical frost dates for the zone. Your yard has its own microclimate, so use them as a starting point and adjust as you learn your space.